James Mustich's 1000 Books to Read Before You Die discussion

Author discussion : https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I read this a few years ago when I saw that it was on Colm Tóibín's list of best books from the 90s.

I know a lot of people really like this book--it certainly makes a lot of 'best-of' lists, but I really thought it was only so-so. Still, a fascinating look at India, no matter what.

I really liked this book. The content was intense and heartbreaking. It's hard to imagine that life could ever be like that. I remember studying caste systems in school, but you don't get this kind of vivid detail in school. I was outraged so many times in this book. And felt happy for the characters a few times, but not nearly as often. I would say there was definitely not any balance in my feelings of anger/shock vs justice/satisfaction. Were things really that bad in the 70's in India?

And the end was nothing like I expected. I put the book away and just had to sit and contemplate what I had just read. Wow.

4 stars. This was heartbreaking. I never realized life could be like that. I was so outraged at many things that occurred in the book. If things were this bad in the 70's in India, it makes me wonder if there has been any improvement since.

One thing I found very interesting was initially Dina was prejudiced against Ishvar and Om. Maneck was friends with them while Dina wanted him to maintain his distance. Maneck helped Dina see some things she thought were insulting. Then she really felt it when Ishvar fell on his knees before her. She initially let them stay on the veranda to keep them out of corrupt police hands. The 4 of them ended up living together in peace and even having fun. At the end of the book, Dina still sees Ishvar and Om even though they are now beggars and when she asks Maneck to wait he won't. He no longer wants to associate with them.

I agree with Sean, there was vivid detail in the book.

I really wonder about the title - a fine balance of what? Not for the characters in the book, not between the corrupt politicians and the people of the country and not in my feelings of anger and outrage.

I really wonder about the title - a fine balance of what? Not for the characters in the book, not between the corrupt politicians and the people of the country and not in my feelings of anger and outrage.

Couldn't it be an oxymoron?
There's no perfect balance;
(view spoiler)[ there's no happy ending. (hide spoiler)]

Mariella wrote: "I really wonder about the title - a fine balance of what? Not for the characters in the book, not between the corrupt politicians and the people of the country and not in my feelings of anger and o...

Couldn't it be an oxymoron?
There's no perfect balance;"

Or sarcasm... as in, "a fine mess"?

Sean wrote: "Mariella wrote: "I really wonder about the title - a fine balance of what? Not for the characters in the book, not between the corrupt politicians and the people of the country and not in my feelin..."

Maybe! 😄

My impression of the title has to do with the enormous amount of different cultures all smashed together in India. So many different religions and backgrounds forced to live elbow to elbow--it takes a fine balance to keep it from completely breaking down.

Given the events in the book, it could be ironic--one might say that it did break down, at least for some of these characters. But if you look at the collection of people associated with the sewing shop, it was a group that would not normally mix, but were actually strong through their diversity. So I think it could be a hopeful concept as well

Bryan "They call me the Doge" wrote: "My impression of the title has to do with the enormous amount of different cultures all smashed together in India. So many different religions and backgrounds forced to live elbow to elbow--it take..."

Thanks, Bryan
I hadn't really thought about the diversity of people and cultures that were mixing there.